Ralph John Schaffel, 90, of Glendive, passed away on October 8th at his daughter’s home in Billings.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 14, 2016 at the Glendive United Methodist Church with Pastor Ruth Mckenzie officiating.
He was born on September 26, 1926 in Allen, Saskatchewan and moved with his mother Amelia Schaffel to Bloomfield shortly after his birth.
He attended school in the Bloomfield area before moving to Glendive where he attended Dawson County High School until he turned 18. He enlisted in the United States Army and served with the 160th Infantry Regiment in the Pacific theater, during World War II. He was among the first troops to guard the 39th parallel in Korea. Ralph was very proud to have gone on a Big Sky Honor Flight to Washington, DC.
Upon returning from the war he went to work for Robin’s Implement where he bought his first new vehicle, a 1946 International pickup he still had the receipt for. He would then develop a need for speed which led to numerous fast cars, including his beloved Hudsons, and motorcycles, with Harley Davidsons being his favorite.
Ralph married Evelyn Heitz on May 2, 1953. Together they had two children, Debra, born in 1955, and Jim, born in 1959. After nearly 40 years of loving marriage filled with great vacations and times with family and friends, Evelyn was taken by cancer.
Ralph worked for Consolidated Freightways, Kampschror’s and Curtis Industries before going to work for Hedahls in 1968. He would retire from Hedahls in 1996, but his retirement wasn’t a perfect fit so he soon returned to work as a part time employee, helping out on and off for many more years. At one time he was working three part time jobs, adding running vehicles for HKT Big Sky Motors and helping deliver and assemble furniture for Town & Country Oak. He still found time for his favorite hobby, woodworking, completing many projects both large and small.
Ralph married Gayle Richey on November 9, 2001. Following her passing, he had lived with his daughter, at Grandview in Glendive and Aspen Meadows Assisted Living in Billings.
Ralph’s final new vehicle purchase, like his first, was a pickup, although this one was a little faster, a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado SS. He sold it to his grandson in 2014 on the condition that his ashes would ride to the cemetery in it. On Father’s Day in his 87th year he was handed the keys and proceeded to take it up to 107 mph, where it thankfully governed out!
Ralph was preceded in death by his wives, Evelyn and Gayle Schaffel, and son-in-law, Westley Toepke.
He is survived by his daughter, Debra Toepke of Glendive; son, Jim (Louise) Schaffel of Billings; grandson, Eric Knudson of Glendive; granddaughters, Lisa (Ben) Ballew of Billings and Stephanie Schaffel of Portland; great-grandsons, Cooper and Coby Ballew of Billings. Brother-in-law Jack and Sue Nelson Eaton of Billings became special friends. Many thanks to Sue for all her help and support during this time.
When you remember him, think of that infectious smile and the twinkle in his eye when he was talking to the ladies. You’ll be happy to know he was still flirting with all the girls from hospice care that came to his 90th birthday, a party which included belly dancers.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Sagebrush Alley Senior Center at 604 E. Grant Ave., Glendive, MT 59330.